Early Christianity and Greek Paidea

Good source for anyone interested in the early fathers of the Church and in the influence of Greek philosophy and pedagogy on early Christian doctrines.

I thought this would be the magnum opus, but I think he started writing it too late. Oh well. Still written by a great scholar!

The author of Paideia dont' need layman analysis.His work is already acknoleged in his field. This little book is a good introduction for the study of Patrística and also for Scholastic philosophers.It is full of references and kept simple and ellegant in text construction. Very pleasant to read.

This is really an extension of Jaeger's great work, Paideia, and shows how the development of Christianity was also a development of Greek Paideia. Jaeger is such a towering scholar that would be presumptuous for me to offer any criticism.

Christian pseudo-paganism stuff that doesn't make any sense b/c it's not pagan, not Christian - just a bunch of bull.

If you're familiar with Werner Jaeger then you'll appreciate this little book. Composed of just over 100 pages, the book is really a composition of lectures given in 1960. Since that time, we've learned a great deal more about Gnostic sects and their influence on Judaism and Christianity. That said, Jaeger's book remains relevant and interesting, with the author concentrating on Christianity's first few centuries of dialogue with Greek philosophy, from Clement & Origen to Gregory of Nyssa.Jaeger argues that Greek mystery cults began to influence Christianity most during the second century and after, changing the emphasis of organized Christianity itself towards a revelatory ethos. Before this, he argues, most Christian thinkers (if not believers) were centered on the philosophy of Christ, as this was the language of the Hellenized audience. Certainly in Alexandria this is true, but we might find this less so in Antioch.The central role of the Platonic concept of life after death, embraced by the Christian fathers and finding full fruition in the fourth century, is well-explored. A concept whose origin is often attributed to the more Dionysian influences does, in fact, find its true source in philosophy rather than faith. This tends to put current arguments of faith vs. reason in a more laughable light.In any case, the work is short and direct, written in an approachable manner by an excellent scholar. Those of you who enjoy this work might also consider picking up Jaeger's 3 volume work on Greek Philosophy (revolving around "paideia," or the individual's "education" in excellence.)

Being a fan of Professor Jaeger's 3-VOLUME "PAIDEIA", this short follow-up on early Christian faith proves yet again what many other's have long suspected: that Christianity became an extension of, rather an alternative to, Pagan mythology and philosophy, thereby betraying Jesus' words and teachings. This brief but excellent study is a MUST BUY!

This book is an invaluable guide for the student of patrology, especially those with an interest in the Cappadocians. Jaeger demonstrates with ease and readability the influences between Hellenism and Christianity, and how Christianity strove to preserve what was good in the classical world, how it transformed the classical worldview and breathed new life into a decaying culture. Coupled by Jaeger's articulation and fluidity of thought, I found this book both intellectually stimulating, and, oddly enough, good spiritual reading. This is more than just an academic's collection of academese; it is a book for anyone wishing to expand their understanding of the Christian heritage.

This book, in excellent condition, reached me the morning after ordering. Never had any book processed so fast!Such concern and consideration for the customer, which was excellent for me as I needed the material for an essay as soon as possible. Sister O'Toole.

Excellent état du livre —qui est le testament et dernier trait de pensée du grand projet Paideia de Werner Jaeger—, lettre d’envoi en parfait état, termes respectés, service courtois. Je vous sais gré.